Courts / Dublin / Report

'Arthur Daley' car dealer wants quashed IRA conviction declared a miscarriage of justice

Summary

Robert O'Leary, a 44‑year‑old used‑car salesman from Finglas, Dublin, had his 2020 conviction for IRA membership quashed after it was revealed that the prosecution's chief witness, Nik Kasapi, was a convicted drug dealer. O'Leary was originally jailed for three years by a Special Criminal Court after being found guilty of belonging to a group styling itself as the Irish Republican Army in August 2019. He claimed he sold a Skoda Octavia, later used in a bomb plot against a PSNI officer, and that no evidence existed against him. Following the quash, O'Leary is seeking a miscarriage‑of‑justice certificate under Section 9 of the Court of Appeal Act 2014. The Court of Appeal has adjourned the matter to February 17 for mention. O'Leary has vowed that his case will not be ignored and has called for the abolition of the Special Criminal Court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Arthur Daley' car dealer wants quashed IRA conviction declared a miscarriage of justice. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• October 2020 Incident
• August 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• January 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
• February 17 Adjournment
• June 2019 Adjournment
• May 2016 Incident
• 2023-01-20 Publication

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Appeal

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Read the original CNI report